The Town Planning Professionals has been urged to leverage the investment opportunities in Lagos State to grow the profession, make impacts, while maintaining their relevance in the built environment and economy.
The advice was given by Dr Johnson Ajisafe, a Guest Speaker at the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) Lagos State Chapter, on Thursday in Lagos.
The programme had the theme: “Town Planning and Investment Opportunities In Lagos State”
Ajisafe described Lagos State as the centre of trade and commerce with vast industrial, business and investment opportunities.
According to him, Lagos as the Nigeria’s financial centre, has the largest ICT market in Africa, with over 17 million people.
He listed the implications of Lagos urbanisation for town planners to include increase in population, pressure on land, slum formation and chaotic transportation system.
Ajisafe, therefore, urged the town planners to take advantage of Lagos growing development to grow the town planning profession; making it more relevant.
On recommendations on how to further improve urban development of the state, Ajisafe suggested that efforts should be geared toward greater appreciation of planning and planners.
He also suggested high level and consistent engagement with the government as well as consistent high value proposition to the government and media-chats.
He listed other recommendations to include smart and sustainable planning practices, robust planning database, collaborative planning with other professionals in the built environment and balance planning as revenue generator.
“Lagos is a major investment and business hub, with vast opportunities.
“As Town planner, practice the profession with the intension to make a difference and impacts; because relevance brings about flourish and upliftment.
“In our context lies our relevance. And until we make our approval process easier, cheaper and affordable, we will continue to have planning problem,” he said.
Contributing, Prof. Timothy Nubi, Director, UNILAG Centre for Housing & Sustainable Dept., reiterated the need to make land administration in Lagos State cheaper and friendly.
Nubi, also one of the Panel Discussants at the event, emphasised the need for investment security in Lagos State and Nigeria at large, saying that no investor would possibly come and invest in an economy that its invest is not secured.
He also underscored the need for collaboration among players in the built environment and other professionals of the economy, advising the citizens to always do the right by obtaining the necessary approvals and engaging professionals for their housing development in order to foster a sustainable urban renewal of the state and the entire country.
Earlier, the NITP Chairman, Mr Oladele Akindele in his opening speech welcomed all participants, appreciating specially some notable personalities for unwavering commitment and support to the Institute.
Akindele urged members to be more committed to the Institute by paying their dues as at when due for the progress and betterment of the profession, listing some of the achievements, procjects, activities and visitations made by the Institute.
“As promised during our campaign and expressly stated in the manifesto, continuation of the Secretariat building (NITP-Joseph Awogbemi House) has been our major focus and we have been able to raise the floor from 3rd (third) where the last administration left it to 6th (six) floor-roof level,” he said.
The event featured a Panel Discussion, where seasoned professionals in the built environment and alike deliberated and made recommendations on how to enhance urban development of Lagos State and Nigeria at large; to thereby make the state and country more liveable for everyone.
